Early studies predicted a storm like Sandy

The devastation that struck New York City and other regions of the northeast after superstorm Sandy should not have come as a surprise, according to a series of reports.

Albany sources are reporting that politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, have been warning of the possibility of such a storm since as early as 1978. Three reports have been compiled since 2005, indicating the potential for such devastation and outlining protocols for protecting against long-term crippling conditions. Indications are that the reports suggest stockpiling a gasoline supply, constructing temporary housing and establishing a system for restoring electrical power quickly, all of which would have eased the situation in the Big Apple.

Long serving homeland security chief in New York State Michael Balboni claims that disaster preparedness is among the first casualties in budget wrangling.